UN says at least 10 civilians killed in Afghanistan air strikes

Air strikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces killed at least 10 civilians, most of them children, and injured nine others, the UN mission in Afghanistan said on Thursday. The strikes were reported overnight in Kunar’s Shultan district and Helmand’s Garmser district. [1] [4]

Pakistan’s information ministry said it had carried out strikes against militant hideouts at two locations in Afghanistan. It said initial reports suggested 22 militants had been killed and that precautions had been taken to prevent civilian harm. AP reported that the ministry did not immediately comment specifically on the civilian casualty reports. [2] [3]

In Kunar, resident Mohammad Hashim told AP he found the bodies of two men and four children in the rubble. A Garmser resident told Amu TV that those killed there included a woman and three young children. [2] [4]

Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid earlier gave a different toll of nine civilians killed and 11 wounded. He also said three homes had been destroyed. [4]